Abstract: Apparatus for positioning an edge protector to the edge of a package to be looped with strapping is provided. The apparatus includes a guide rail extending generally normal to the exposed package edge and an edge protector positioning apparatus mounted on the rail. The edge protector positioning apparatus has an edge protector application station adjacent the edge to be protected and is provided with an angularly oriented magazine which stores a stack of nested edge protectors each with its concave face foremost. Edge protectors are delivered to the application station from the magazine by means of a fluid motor operated pushing means which acts normal to the magazine to individually remove each edge protector therefrom. From the pushing means depend extended fingers having an edge protector support surface.

Abstract: In the box annealing of steel sheet, the tendency for adjacent wraps of the sheet to pressure weld (stick) is decreased or eliminated by passing the sheet, prior to annealing, through a rinse containing from 1,500 to 10,000 ppm of the magnesium or calcium salts of soluble carboxylic acids--preferably formates. Further benefits are realized if the sheet is electro-cleaned with a silicate containing cleaning solution, and thereafter rinsed in the formate solution whereby the latter acts to fix the concentration of silicates remaining on the surface of the sheet.

Abstract: In the ingot casting of killed-steel steels, insulative walled reservoirs known as hot-tops are employed at the top of the mold to maintain a source of molten steel which can feed the shrinkage cavity that forms during solidification of the ingot. Presently, these hot-tops are set to a predetermined height prior to the filling of the mold cavity. As a result of such controlled height pourings, variations in the volume of the mold cavity lead to significant losses in the ingot-to-product yield. To overcome such losses, the invention employs a floating hot-top. Rather than teeming to a prescribed height, the ingot is teemed to a prescribed weight and the floating hot-top is placed on the surface of the steel so teemed. Further pouring is delayed, at least until the hot top is welded to the surface by the freezing of the molten steel in contact therewith. Thereafter, the hollow center of hot-top is filled to provide a sufficient reservoir of molten metal for the resultant shrinkage cavity.

Abstract: Significant improvements in defoaming in a wet-process phosphoric acid reactor are obtained by adding to the reactor during the digestion process both a surfactant defoamer and a polyacrylamide.

Abstract: A pyrometer for determining the temperature of a surface in the presence of reflected radiation has two infrared radiation sensors, each responsive to different wave length, positioned to receive radiation from the surface. An adjustment factor is developed from sensor response signals when reflected radiation and surface temperatures are the same, and is combined with sensor response characteristics over a range of surface and sensor indicated temperatures to develop a correction factor which when multiplied by the indicated temperature provides the actual surface temperature.

Abstract: Apparatus for effecting the knotting of wire strapping applied to a package is provided. The knotting function is motivated by means of a hydraulic cylinder which displaces a rack gear which, in turn, drives a pinion gear to which a splined shaft is affixed. The shaft runs through the knotter unit housing which includes a twister pinion for knotting the wire, wire gripping means, cutting means, wire ejecting means and a wire cover means. In the operation of the apparatus disclosed, the end portion of the wire is fed by a remote feeder through a guide area, engaged by a gripping means and the wire is tensioned by the feeder. The hydraulic cylinder causes the shaft to rotate in a first direction which turns a first drive hub that engages a twister gear having a uni-directional pawl, which twister gear turns a twister pinion gear thereby twisting the wire.

Abstract: Toxic chemicals such as polychlorinated biphenyls and other organic wastes are destroyed, optionally together with inorganic wastes, by injecting them, together with oxygen, into a molten bath such as is utilized in a steelmaking facility. The bath may be melted initially by induction, an electric arc or otherwise; the desired temperature greater than 2500.degree. F. may be maintained thereafter by the reaction of the oxygen and the organic waste. Various by-products may be obtained from the gas.

Abstract: Apparatus for controlling the jerk or shock loading of the wire rope used to apply tension to move a galvanizing or pickle line's horizontal looper car. The apparatus includes a vertical spindle affixed to the frame of the looper car. A drum having a radially extending arm is provided to be rotatable about the spindle. The arm is provided with an intermediate region to anchor the wire rope and a terminal region to cooperate with a resilient shock absorbing means which may comprise a polyurethane pad. Such shock absorbing means includes a bracket affixed to the looper car frame. A spring-biased bolt connects the arm to the bracket while a resilient pad is provided intermediate the arm and the bracket.

Abstract: A method is provided for measuring and controlling the level of an elevated temperature liquid in a container. The method includes converting electrical voltage signals from temperature sensing means spaced along a wall of the container to digital form. The converted signals are periodically scanned in elevation sequence. From the scanned signals the location is determined of the uppermost sensing means having a signal value of sufficient magnitude to lie below the liquid level. A fraction, F, of the spacing between that sensing means and the next above sensing means is calculated at which the measured liquid level lies. The fraction determined is a function of the converted signal value, Sn-1, a converted signal value, Se, at an estimated location of the liquid level and, So, a converted signal value sufficient to cause the fraction, F, to be at or near zero in value immediately prior to imminent changes in the location of the uppermost sensing means determined to lie below the liquid level.

Abstract: A method is provided for measuring and controlling the level of an elevated temperature liquid in a container. The electrical voltage signal outputs of a plurality of temperature sensing devices at spaced elevations on the container are converted to digital form. The converted signals are periodically scanned in elevation sequence. A determination is made from the scanned signals of the location of the uppermost sensing means having a converted signal value of sufficient magnitude to indicate a temperature in the wall below the level of liquid in the container. Then a fraction, F, of the spacing between the sensing means, n, and the next above sensing means, n-1, is calculated as a function of the converted signal value, Sn-1. The measured level in the container is calculated as a function of, n, and, F, with respect to their location on the container. Finally, the rate of addition and withdrawal of liquid to and from the container is controlled based on the measured liquid level in the container.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the suppression of fume from a body of molten metal is described. The method involves the blanketing of the molten metal bath with a mixture of pressurized inert gas and finely divided or atomized particles of water. The inert gas may be argon, nitrogen or steam. Apparatus particularly adapted for performing the disclosed method is also described.

Abstract: A wire rope having extraordinary resistance to wear comprises a core strand and a plurality of outer strands oriented and nested in the same helical lay as the core strand, all the wires thereof being made of a molybdenum-containing steel and having been stress-relieved at a temperature of at least 675.degree. F., said rope being coated inside and outside with a suspension of finely divided molybdenum disulfide in a non-fluid state at room temperature.

Abstract: An insert is provided for a continuous caster mold which permits casting of plural strands in the mold. The insert has opposed wall faces, the spacing of which is independently adjustable at their upper and lower ends. The spacing of the upper and lower ends is made adjustable by separately actuable wedge assemblies, each of which includes a wedge and ramps having mateable angularly aligned surfaces. At least one surface in each pair of adjoining wedge and ramp surfaces has a convex curvature to permit adjustment of the angular alignment of the wall faces as required at the various spacing distances thereof. The wedges provide greater rigidity than screw-type adjustment, preventing undesirable variations in taper during casting. The invention includes a method of installing the insert in the mold and adjusting the spacing and angular alignment of the opposed wall faces of the insert.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for performing multiple operations on a conventional open-die forge press, and includes a rotatable top punch assembly and stationary bottom die assembly. The top punch assembly includes a mounting fixture secured to the press crosshead, a holder plate rotatably mounted on the fixture, a plurality of punches extending downwardly from the holder plate, and motor means for indexing the punches sequentially into forging position over the bottom die assembly. A method is also provided for making valve pots, including upsetting a heated metal block in a split die and punching a hole through the block, the improvement in which during the upsetting step a vertically reciprocable member is extended so as to close a bottom opening in the split die, in order that the split die will function as a closed die, and during the punching step the reciprocable member is retracted so as to allow a punch-core to fall through said opening.

Abstract: An unsaturated polyester exhibiting low styrene emissions comprises conventional phthalic and maleic anhydrides together with specific amounts of diethylene glycol, styrene, and a particular type of paraffin wax.

Abstract: The invention is of a valve member having a replaceable deformable insert installed in a groove of the member and a deformable backup member secured to the valve member, preferably by bonding, and abutting so as to abut at least a major portion of a transverse surface of the insert opposite a tapered seating surface thereof. The insert may be of harder more wear resistant material than the backup member extending service life and permitting easier repair or replacement of the insert.

Abstract: In the electrodeposition of iron-zinc alloy coatings, a lustrous, adherent iron-zinc coating containing 10-20% iron is achieved over a current density range of 400-1600 amps/ft.sup.2 and line speeds of 100-500 ft/min. by employing an electrolyte maintained at a temperature of 130.degree. to 160.degree. F. which contains FeCl.sub.2, ZnCl.sub.2, KCl, K.sub.2 SO.sub.4, a chelating agent such as citric acid, and a minor amount of an adduct composed primarily of polyalkylene glycols.

Abstract: An aluminothermic reduction reaction mixture consisting essentially of an admixture of manganese dioxide (MnO.sub.2) and metallic aluminum (Al) with alumina (Al.sub.2 O.sub.3) added thereto. The reaction does not yield a metallic phase, but produces a single phase comprising a galaxite containing slag.

Abstract: A method of providing a mixture of lean and rich gas of a desired composition by means of a jet compressor system comprising two or more jet compressors comprising:(1) adjusting the jet compressor system being used to mix the lean and rich gas to provide a leaner gas mixture than the desired composition;(2) then adding a predetermined amount of rich gas to the leaner gas mixture to attempt to obtain the desired composition; and(3) varying the amount of rich gas added to the leaner gas in response to the measurement of gas properties in the jet compressor system to thereby more nearly obtain a gas of the desired composition. Preferably the lean gas comprises air, blast furnace gas, or BOF gas, and the rich gas comprises methane, natural gas, propane, or butane.

Abstract: Improved flexibility properties are provided in an unsaturated polyester resin comprising the esterification product of about 85 moles of maleic anhydride and a molar equivalent of water, about 10 to about 20 moles of a fatty acid dimer or trimer, about 65 to 125 moles of dicyclopentadiene, and about 50 to about 65 mole percent, based on the total of the maleic, dimer and trimer acids, of a glycol having 2-6 carbon atoms.